Sign frame



' Feb. 10, 1925- 1,525,739

J. HOTCHNER SIGN FRAME Filed March 5. 1919 a 9 v P 6 6 /v o 0 0 J w 2 QINVENTOR J, Hotchner Patented Feb. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH no'ronzuna,

SIGN FRAME.

Application filed March 3, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn HOTGHNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Fran cisco, State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful Sign Frame, of which thefollowing is a specification in such full and clear terms as will enablethose skilled in the art to construct and use the same.

This invention relates to a sign frame and its object is to produce aframe which is capable of holding letters either illuminated ornon-illuminated, in a fixed position with respect to the sign in suchmanner as to make them easily disassembled therefrom as well as readilyplaced therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a frame which may be usedfor either vertical signs or for horizontally extending signs, as may bedesired, no holes in the letters being required to secure them in placein the frame.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings inwhich the same reference numeral is applied to the same portionthroughout, but I am aware that there may be modifications thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a horizontally extending sign framebuilt in accordance with this invention,

Figure 2 is a front elevation of a verti- (ally extending sign framebuilt in accordance with this invention,

Figure 3 is a front elevation of aletter used in conjunction with thesign frame,

Figure e is a transverse sectional view of the sign frame on a slightlyenlarged scale, showing the manner of securing letters in place in thesign frame, an

Figure 5 is a view of the interior of the frame for the sign, showing aportion of one of the plates for holding the letters.

The numeral 1 indicates a sign body which has an open frame 2 at thefront to receive suitable letters 3. The letters are held in place inthe frame 2 by means of plates 4; and 5. The plates are in turn securedin position by means of a series of screws 6 and 7, there being such anumber of the screws as is necessary for a given sign.

The letters are shorter in the case of the horizontal sign, and,narrower in the case OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

Serial No. 280,850. r 1 e of the vertical sign than the distance be--tween the centers of the one set of screws and the opposite edge of theopening in the sign frame; so that the letters can be placed in oositionwithout taking out the screws anc when the letters have been placed inoosition as indicated in the case of one letter in Figure 2 these screwsmay be tightened up and will firmly hold the letters in place.

A particular advantage of this construction lies in the fact that withsome forms of letters it is not expedient to bore holes in them becauseof the porcelain covering thereon, and this sign is particularly adaptedfor that character of work. Whether the construction is used with thevertical sign or with the horizontal sign is a. matter de pendent onlyupon the desire of the user.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Let' ters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. Asign comprising a sign body having an opening on one side to receivea series of letters or characters, letter retaining bars extending alongtwo sides of said opening and producing grooves to receive oppositeedges of the letters, means for securing one of the bars in place andscrews for connect ing the other bar in place whereby the letters may betightened in position in the sign body, the distance between the groovesformed by said bars being sufficient to allow the letters to be insertedin place from the front of the sign and removed therefrom withoutremoving the screws from the securing bar.

2. A sign comprising a sign body having an opening on one side, letterretaining bars extending along two sides of said opening, screws forsecuring said bars to the sign body, and a series of letters held inplace by said bars, said letters being of a dimen sion at right anglesto the securing bars less than the distance from the screws in one ofsaid bars to the opposite side of the opening in the sign body wherebythe letters may be inserted in place, from the front and removed fromthe sign body without removing the screws from said securing bars.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day ofFebruary A. D. 1919,

JOSEPH HOTCHNER.

